Wikipedia

Assistant Secretary for Health

The assistant secretary for health (ASH) is a senior U.S. government official within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) who serves as the primary advisor to the secretary of health and human services on matters involving the nation's public health, and provides strategic and policy direction to the Public Health Service agencies and Commissioned Corps.

Assistant Secretary for Health
Seal of the United States Public Health Service
Flag of the Assistant Secretary for Health
Incumbent
Leith J. States
Acting 
since January 20, 2025
U.S. Public Health Service
Commissioned Corps
StyleAssistant Secretary
Admiral[1]
AbbreviationASH
ADM[1]
Reports toSecretary of Health and Human Services
SeatHubert H. Humphrey Building, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Washington, D.C.
AppointerPresident of the United States
with United States Senate advice and consent
Constituting instrument42 U.S.C. § 202 and
42 U.S.C. § 207
FormationNovember 2, 1965; 59 years ago (1965-11-02)
First holderPhilip R. Lee
WebsiteOfficial website

The position is a statutory Senate-confirmed presidential appointment (42 U.S.C. § 202), who may be a civilian, or a uniformed four-star admiral of the PHS Commissioned Corps and is nominated for appointment by the president.[2][3] The president may also nominate a civilian appointee to also be appointed a direct commission in the commissioned corps if the nominee so chooses.[3][4] The assistant secretary's office and its staff make up the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH).

History

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The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Scientific Affairs was established on January 1, 1967, following Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1966.[5] The new position supplanted the surgeon general as the head of the PHS, with all PHS component heads now reporting to the assistant secretary.[5][6][7][8] This was seen as undermining the chain of command of the PHS Commissioned Corps, beginning a long-term shift where Commissioned Corps officers were more responsible to the agencies they were stationed in than to the corps itself.[8]

The office was renamed the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health following the Department of Education Organization Act in 1972.[5]

In 1995, supervision of the agencies within PHS was shifted to report directly to the secretary of health and human services. This transformed the assistant secretary for health from a supervisory position in the direct chain of command, into an advisory one.[8]

In 2010, the office's name was changed from Office of Public Health and Science to Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.[9]

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

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Main article: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health

As of 2018, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health oversees 12 core public health offices, 10 regional health offices, and 10 presidential and secretarial advisory committees.[10]

 
The stars, shoulder boards, and sleeve stripes of the Assistant Secretary for Health if serving in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

List

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No. Assistant secretary Term Pay schedule or
Service branch
Portrait Name Took office Left office Term length
1Philip R. LeeNovember 2, 196519693 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
2Roger O. EgebergJuly 14, 196919712 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
3Merlin K. DuValJuly 1, 1971January 20, 19731 year, 203 days 
Executive
Schedule IV
4Charles C. EdwardsApril 18, 1973January 5, 19751 year, 262 days 
Executive
Schedule IV
5Theodore CooperJuly 1, 197519772 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
6Vice Admiral
Julius B. Richmond		July 13, 1977May 14, 19813 years, 305 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
7Edward Brandt Jr.198119843 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
8Robert E. Windom198619893 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
9Admiral
James O. Mason		198919934 years 
U.S. Public
Health Service
10Philip R. LeeJuly 2, 199319985 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
11Admiral
David Satcher		February 13, 1998January 20, 20012 years, 342 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
-Rear Admiral
Arthur J. Lawrence[11]
Acting		January 20, 2001February 8, 20021 year, 19 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
12Eve SlaterFebruary 8, 2002February 5, 2003362 days 
Executive
Schedule IV
-Rear Admiral
Cristina V. Beato
Acting		February 5, 2003January 4, 20062 years, 333 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
13Admiral
John O. Agwunobi		January 4, 2006September 4, 20071 year, 243 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
-Don J. Wright
Acting		September 4, 2007March 28, 2008206 days 
Executive
Schedule IV
14Admiral
Joxel García		March 28, 2008January 20, 2009298 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
-Rear Admiral
Steven K. Galson
Acting		January 22, 2009June 22, 2009151 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
15Howard K. KohJune 22, 2009August 1, 20145 years, 40 days 
Executive
Schedule IV
-Karen B. DeSalvo[12]
Acting		October 2014January 3, 2017More than 2 years 
Executive
Schedule IV
-Don J. Wright
Acting		January 4, 2017February 15, 20181 year, 42 days 
Executive
Schedule IV
16Admiral
Brett P. Giroir		February 15, 2018January 19, 20212 years, 339 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
-Rear Admiral
Felicia L. Collins
Acting		January 21, 2021March 26, 202164 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
17Admiral
Rachel L. Levine[13]		March 26, 2021January 20, 20253 years, 300 days 
U.S. Public
Health Service
-Leith J. States[14]
Acting		January 20, 2025Incumbent89 days 
Executive
Schedule IV

References

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  1. ^ a b If also serving in uniform as a Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officer.
  2. ^ "PHSCC Uniforms". Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "42 USC 207. Grades, ranks, and titles of commissioned corps". Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  4. ^ "Regular Corps Assimilation Program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  5. ^ a b c "Records of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health [OASH]". National Archives. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  6. ^ History, mission, and organization of the Public Health Service. U.S. Public Health Service. 1976. pp. 3–4, 20, 22.
  7. ^ "A Common Thread of Service: A History of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare". U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. July 1, 1972. Secretary Cohen. Retrieved September 1, 2020 – via HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.
  8. ^ a b c Landman, Keren (August 29, 2019). "For America's Public Health Officers, Questions of Duty and Purpose". Undark Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH)". September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on September 22, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  10. ^ "Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)". HHS.gov. March 30, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "Rear Admiral Arthur J. Lawrence". Council on Strategic Risks. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Received a recess appointment extension on January 1, 2016, under 5 U.S.C. § 3346(b)(2), to continue serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Health until the end of fiscal year 2016.
  13. ^ Received her commission and four-star rank on October 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Leith J. States, M.D., M.P.H." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. January 20, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
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